My heart's forever changed and I'll never be the same...

June 17th...

So that is from one of my fave EFY songs.  And it's just a bit too perfect.  I didn't know it would be so hard.  I've been feeling okay about going home, obviously sad and scared, but after I read your emails today and realised I would be released soon I just started crying.  I almost couldn't control myself haha I think the librarian is getting really worried. :)  I'm just gonna try not to think about it.

We had a really great week!!!  It was so busy and full and we saw many miracles.  I don't have too much time to tell you about them all, I guess I can tell you in person soon.  So I'll save some of them!

I'll tell you about our day at church yesterday- it was fantastic!  Matt was there and had a great Sunday.  He tells us he isn't gonna miss church for the rest of his life.  Sweet! :)  A man named Tom also came.  We met him on the street Saturday night and talked to him for about 10 minutes.  He is from Poland, living in London, and is on holiday in Edinburgh for like 3 days.  We met him not long after he'd gotten off the plane.  He was really interested in what we had to say and coming to church.  He told us he'd come....AND HE CAME.  Miracle of miracles. :)  A couple in the ward totally took him under their wings and fellowshipped him like crazy. 

Don't worry it doesn't stop there!  When we were in gospel principles a man in the ward came in all frantic like, "sisters! sisters! you need to hurry and come out here!"  We were thinking, "who died?"  haha  He said that there was a young girl who had just walked into the church and nobody knew her.  We talked to her for a second...her name is Jade and she is 17.  She had watched a video about a mormon family on youtube and then watched the district on youtube. (hahaha)  She found mormon.org and chatted to missionaries a little bit and found out where the church was in Edinburgh.  She had someone drop her off and that was it!  She is an amazing young girl.  Can you imagine doing that?  She is so cute and one of the young women in the ward took her and treated her like they were best friends and it was awesome to see.  There was a baptism after church for the china town elders!  Matt, Tom, and Jade came to the baptism.  Is this real life? ;)  It was so great and the spirit was strong and everyone felt it.  So this is where we are at the moment: Matt is preparing to be baptised on July 6th, Tom is going to meet with the missionaries where he lives (and will totally be baptised), and we are so excited to start teaching Jade.  God is good.
I will need to get going soon, for my last p-day we are going to go to the mission home and play games and have fun with our district.  sigh.  I don't know if I'll be emailing next week...I might email on monday, but I'm not sure.  Just in case I don't: my flight plans say i will be arriving in Salt Lake at 8:40...is that what you were planning on?  I have this fear that I will show up and no one will be there.  haha.  Also make sure someone takes a video and takes pictures!  I want to see how ridiculous I look. :)
Before I go I have this quote to share.  Well, it's sort of a quote.  In the book "our heritage" there is a story of a man and a woman that cross the plains in the Martin handcart company.  People ask him if he thought it was worth it or if he regreted it.  He gives a beautiful response and I just applied it to the mission:
"Was I sorry that I chose to come on a mission?  No.  Neither then nor any minute of my life since.  The price I paid to become aquainted with God was a privilege to pay and I am thankful that I was privileged to serve in the Scotland/Ireland mission."
It's been hard, but it's been my privilege.  I absolutely love this mission, I love this work, and I love my Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ.  I'm grateful that I could serve them and I just hope and pray I did my part.  :)

I love you all. :)

Sister Rindlisbacher

Much love from the land of Scot

June 10th

Hello dear friends and family :)

I cannot believe it's June, let alone the 10th of June.  This is such a weird experience...everyone asks if I'm ready/excited/nervous to come home.  I feel like I'm coming home for a week and then I'll be a missionary again.  I don't think it's ever going to sink in.  But!  a couple of glorious weeks left as a missionary!

We have had a really good week.  I'll tell you about my favorites:
1.  Last P-day all the missionaries in Edinburgh took a hike up Corstorphine hill (it's like 2 minutes from our flat).  It passes right by the zoo so we got to see the zebras for free!  Who needs to pay £16?  We also had lunch and just played fun games up at the top.  It was really really fun!  Nevermind I walked into stinging nettle.  twice. haha My legs itched for days!
2. Matthew or Matty as he likes to be called...is doing so good!  We had an awesome lesson with him and he came to church yesterday and loved it.  He said every lesson and every talk seemed to be 'just for him'.  He told us that he could finally feel the love of God and he's getting back to who he once was/wants to be.  We're going to try and set a date for him to be baptised tomorrow.  He has become really excited about the gospel this week.  So good!
3. We helped Jackie with some painting this week.  it's always so fun!  We are pro painters by now.  She also fed us our tea! yum!  We had a really good lesson on the plan of salvation.  She is slowly progressing and gaining a testimony.  She believes in the Book of Mormon and loves learning about it.
4. We had an all scotland conference!  It was so good!  We had the family history people for this area come and teach us how we could better use family history in our work.  President spoke to us alot about referrals and finding people through the people we already know!  People at home: help the missionaries find people to teach!  You'll be able to feel the amazing feeling of helping someone know they're a child of God who is loved.  It's pretty great. 
It was also a weird day.  My last zone conference.  It was hard to say goodbye to everybody. :(  But even if I never see them again I am so stinking grateful for the people I met out here, the friends I made, and everything they taught me.  Love them all!
I'm sorry I didn't have too much to say this week.  We've kind of got to hurry, the baptist family that I've told you about is taking us to Calton (?) Hill.   It should be fun!

Have a great week.  I loooooooooooove you.

Sister Rindlisbacher
ps- Here is a funny tidbit that probably won't be funny to you.  So everybody here says "hiya" as a greeting.  I say this all the time, but I think I'm just getting really tired/losing my mind because I got off the bus one day and instead of saying 'thanks' to the driver I said 'hiya' and hopped off the bus. hahaha And a few times as we've been talking to people on the street I've said 'biya' as I've walked away.  That is NOT  a word and NO ONE says that.  I felt so dumb. haha

June 3rd

Hi!

I never know where to start these emails.  My mind just goes blank.  There is so much to say that I never know what to say. :)  But hey!  How are you?  I got the pictures of Amber and Dave and I almost burst out crying. haha.  They are so darn pretty.  It's summer!  You're all finally free from school.  I remember what a great feeling that was.  So this week for us has been good.  We had really good weather.  So hot!  It was probably nothing compared to home, but I was dying.  It's been an exhausting week, but that just means we worked hard, right? I hope so. haha.

Matthew, the guy we started teaching decided to drop us this week.  He decided that God wasn't for him.  He forced us to take the Book of Mormon back and everything.  It was really sad.  We saw him a few days later on the bus.  He told us that he hasn't been happy at all.  He feels like God is punishing him for 'not choosing Him'.  I don't think he's being punished he just isn't experiencing all the blessings that come from living the gospel.  Anyway, he recognized that a little bit and said he wanted to come to church next week and try again.  We'll pray that he feels something this week and gains that desire to try!
I don't remember if I've ever told you about Jackie???  Jacki is AWESOME.  She is the best friend of a member here in Edinburgh, so she has been to church and some church activities.  She is just such a lovely lady.  She has really been struggling though.  We visit her every once in a while and try to lift her spirits.  We have also helped her paint a bunch.  Oh and she feeds us sometimes!!  Anyway, the bottom line is she is great.  She is probably in her 50's.  She decided this week that she wanted to take the missionary lessons 'for real'.  We are so excited to teach her!  I think it's because she came to the Joseph Smith fireside a few weeks ago and really felt the spirit.  So.  Good.  Missionary work is awesome when members bring their friends, they become comfortable in the church, she learned to trust us through service, etc.  I wish it worked out like this more often!  I'm going to be such a different 'member missionary'  when I get home...in like 6 months. :)
Funny/awkward/great moment:  We were street contacting after church yesterday.  There is a ton of construction so we were walking on this temporary sidewalk with fences on both sides.  There was room for 2 people tops.  good thing there was the three of us and like 4 other people walking towards us. haha.  We tried talking to the first couple as they awkwardly slid past us.  Nope.  Then we tried talking to the next guy.  Shot down.  haha.  Then we look up and there is a contruction worker/security guard up on a ladder just looking down at us and chuckling.  We were just like, "Hey, can we just talk to you about it?" haha.  So we had a good wee conversation trying to talk loud enough so he could hear us from way up there.  He gave us his number because he's interested in learning more! woot! 
Okay!  have a really great week!  Remember you only have like 3 weeks to write your lovely sister missionary an email/letter. ;)

Love you,

sister Rindlisbacher

ps sorry I haven't sent pictures in forever.  My camera is dead and I lost the charger.  awesome I know.

Hiya :)

Hello family!

How is everybody this rainy day?  Have you had a good week?  Amber's wedding plans so far sounds great...I approve.  Send more pictures though.  And send me her engagement pictures as soon as possible.  I'm pretty much dying to see them.  Pretty much everybody emailed me this week! ha so thanks! 

This week the weather was up and down.  Rain then hail then the past couple of days have been BOILING.  (I don't think I'll be able to survive a summer at home ha).  My mood has kind of been like the weather.  It's been a good week, but that just means Satan will give you something to try and bring you down.  But it's okay...all is well. :)
We have someone new we are teaching!  His name is Matthew.  He's really, really good.  Here is the story: A couple weeks ago we had two sets of sisters in our area.  Sister Clegg and I were together and Sister Larsen was going around with her new comp Sister Rousseau.  The other sisters were waiting at a bus stop and a man was running by.  He stopped and asked them the time and got into a gospel conversation.  he was really interested in learning more!  The sisters wrote his information down, but we didn't see it.  A few days ago we were waiting at a bus stop and this guy runs by.  He stops and asks us for the time (haha at first this story may appear creepy...and at first we thought so too.  But don't worry it sorts itself out ha).  Then he tells us how he met the sisters and had asked them the exact same thing.  He had been baptised in another church and was really 'into God' for a long time.  He even tried going out on Princes street (busiest in Edinburgh) to talk to people about Him. :)  He fell away for a long time.  He told us he's been ignoring God for too long, and when he had passed the sisters before and us that day-he felt compelled to stop.  He felt like he needed to talk to us.  Anyway!  We had a great lesson with him and he accepted the invitation to be baptised!  He came to church with us yesterday and really enjoyed it.  A member called us and said they had ridden the same bus after church and Matthew said he was coming back next week.  Woo!  Pray for Matthew!
We also had an interesting fireside at the church this week.  A couple from America came to speak to us...they're doing a European tour.  They are both Mormon historians or something.  It was really interesting.  They're really smart.  Sister Clegg wrote a note to me that said, "I feel really stupid."  I wrote back, "Me two." haha we thought it was hilarious.  Sister Caswell was like, "Guys, it's spelled too." hahaha Anyway that was a tangent...It was interesting to hear all their theories and such, but the overwhelming feeling I came out of there with was, "I believe in Jesus."  There was a lot of deep doctrine thrown out there, but to me the gospel is simple and "I believe in Jesus."  I liked something they said about faith: "Faith has to operate where there are reasons to believe and reasons to doubt.  And every soul is free to choose to believe."
Well, have a great week.  Write letters and emails...you don't have very long left!  I'm expecting lots of redemption mail. :) (haha just kidding...mostly)

I love you all!

Sister Rindlisbacher

Well hello there er'body!

How is life?  It's been another good week here in Scotland.  I had a dream last night that I was on a.....date......and they asked me where I had gone on my mission.  I remember saying I went to Scotland and then I just started bawling.  The sad fact is I can see that happening.  Love it here.  Here is a quote from Sister Clegg: "The work is hastening here in Scotland and it's in the form of estrogen."  haha so true!  We have about a million sisters in the mission now.  I used to know all of them, but now I know about 1/3 of them.  Weird.  But it's great that there are so many missionaries.  There are so many new areas being opened.  Soon Scotland and Ireland will only be populated with missionaries. :)

We have a new companion!  Her name is Sister Caswell...she is from Washington state.  We had a really fun day on Wednesday climbing Pratt's hill with all the newbies.  I had to say goodbye to all the missionaries going to Ireland cause I won't see them again on the mission/ever?  Hated that.  But the day was fun.  We had a lot of meetings as usual and even though we always go over the same thing in the trainer/trainee meetings I still learn what I can improve.  Humility and charity.  Yep.  The hardest ones. :)

Have I ever told you about the baptist family that we are "teaching"?  We were chapping probably back in March and we met this guy named Allie.  He said we could come back later in the week.  We did and we didn't really know what we were getting ourselves into. haha.  They are a big, English, really strong Christian family.  I think they have the bible memorised.  :)  We have met with them on and off.  They are interested in learning more about our church...general knowledge I suppose.  Although they intimidate the heck out of us we really love them.  And they invited us over for dinner this week!  Isn't that sweet?  It was so fun too.  We even got to play a game with them after and just relax and not have to defend the Book of Mormon or our church. :)  No...they are an awesome family and really great examples of Christians.  Their oldest daughter Elspeth is great (she's around our age) and we are even gonna do something with her on P-day. 

Cheryl has had a pretty hard week.  We couldn't get in contact with her for a long time, so we were kind of in panic mode.  We saw her at stake conference though and she was doing okay.  We were about an hour into stake conference and Sister Clegg looks at me and is like, "is that Ethan?"  haha In fact it was!  So glad that she came!  She has had a tough week, Satan is really trying to work on her.  She has so much potential and he doesn't want her to reach it.  But she's tough and she'll get through. 
Yesterday was a long day of finding.  We thought it would drag, but we were blessed with tons of success.  It was about 8:30 and we were walking home and we stopped a lady named Carol.  Her brother had recently died and she was struggling.  She told us that she's really scared of dying.  She hopes God is there, but just doesn't know.  We told her about the Book of Mormon and read a little bit with her.  We even invited her to be baptised (sister Caswell's first! woo) and she said she would.  We said a prayer with her before she left and she teared up a lot.  She just said thank you for what we told her.  Hopefully we'll meet with her again this week...I'll let you know how it goes!
Quick request: We are having a zone conference next month and some family history people from SLC are coming to talk about how we can use fam. history in missionary work.  We are supposed to have some stories of ancestors and a 4 generation (?) pedigree chart.  Could you send me at least the chart.  Grandma Bacher sent me some stories that would work. (thanks!)  gracias.
Okay. I'm gonna go, but have a brilliant week!  Love you,

Sister Rindlisbacher

ps..someone told me this week that our last name means deer basin....???

May 14th

Hey family!

It was pretty great getting to talk to you on Sunday!  And it was fun to meet Dave, hopefully he doesn't think I'm too much of a freak. haha.  I don't have too much time...again!  I'll tell you about Cheryl though.
Her baptism was on Saturday!!!!  It was soo so good.  We actually had a wee bit of a scare on Friday.  She was coming to dinner with us at the bishop's house, but we couldn't find her anywhere.  We tried by her house, called her, texted her...nothing.  And we didn't hear from her until Saturday morning.  ugh.  She has had a few baptismal dates in the past and even had a baptismal service and didn't show.  so we were scared!  But we found out she had been in the hopsital for her stomach and had left her phone at home.  We felt pretty bad for our lack of faith.  :/  But we met with her before the baptism and she was so excited.  Her family took her to the church (her aunt and uncle are members).  She looked like an angel in her dress.  She loved it! :)  There was also a mother and two kids being baptised, which was awesome.  A lot of people came out to support.  The program was really nice.  We had to (yes. had to.) do a musical number.  We sang I am a Child of God with Cheryl.  :)  The water was super cold.  She said she couldn't even breathe, but when the bishop (who baptised her) started to talk she just felt warmth.  She said she just felt so happy.  She even bore her testimony after-it was beautiful.  She was confirmed on Sunday and it was a beautiful blessing.  Ethan was even quiet...the whole time!  Miracle.  We just love Cheryl.  She'll be a really strong member.  She loves the gospel.  Ach-it makes us happy.
Okay I better get going.  Oh!  Did I mention I'm staying in Edinburgh?  Edinburgh till the end.  Sister Clegg and I are both staying and getting a new missionary.  :)  It'll be grand.
Have a great week.  Amber...keep me posted on the wedding plans...I have many ideas. haha
Love you all!

Sister Rindlisbacher

 

 

Heeeey!

Wow.  Just wow.  It has been a really interesting and fun and exhausting and awesome week.  I don't even know where to begin!  I'll just dive right in.
1. Cheryl is doing okay.  She had a couple setbacks this week.  We didn't get to see her all week long; I think she didn't want to see us and disappoint us, which of course we weren't.  We are really sad, but we just love her.  She got some news this week that was really hard.  And because of a couple of other things she was worried she couldn't be baptised.  She was just heart broken, she wants it so much.  She didn't show up for a few of our appointments this week and so we decided to do a suprise attack (haha) on Saturday night.  We got her in!  We were able to talk to her and help her and pray with her, which she hadn't done all week.  When we first walked in I could tell something was wrong, but as we left she was almost back to her usual self.  She told us that it must have been Heavenly Father that sent us there that night. :)  She also came to church yesterday!  Ethan came too!  I think she had a good day, she just gets stressed about Ethan.  The good news is, despite some new trials, she is still working for baptism (not so sure on the day yet though....I'll keep you posted.)  Pray for Cheryl, please!
2. Gary.. poor Gary.  We didn't see him at all.  We aren't sure whats wrong.  He's been struggling and not feeling so well.  We just need to see him and figure out whats wrong so we can help him.  Pray that he gets better and can feel the spirit again.
3. Have I ever told you about Jackie?  She is the best friend of one of the members here.  She has been taught a couple of times by missionaries and will come to church or activities every once in a while.  We seen her a few times and helped her paint once.  We just really love her.  She's so great.  Anyway she had a really bad week.  She called us on Saturday and we told her we'd come see her that day.  She really opened up and told us her struggles.  Breaks my heart, but I think us just being there helped her out.  And she fed us tacos!  yum!  Sister Larsen and I were talking later that night about how we felt like "real" missionaries that day. :)  Sometimes you get caught up/go through the motions and live for how many lessons you get or whatever, but we feel like real missionaries when we just do what Jesus would have done...minister.  We liked that feeling.
4. I had a cool experience after interviews (we had interviews on Friday and it was great-how I love the Browns!)  We were waiting at a bus stop and this guy came and stood near us.  I was thinking of how I could start the conversation without being too awkward...oh wait...not possible.  haha So I turned to him and was going to comment on the weather (haha it was sunny and scottish people like to talk about their weather) but as I turned to him he put his hands together, like he was praying and pointed to my badge.  I soon realised (I hope you don't think I stupid for the way I spell-they spell things differently over here) that he was deaf.  He was trying to ask me something and I was trying to make up signs to answer him back ha It wasn't working very well (too bad I dropped out of my sign language class)  So I took out a piece of paper and a pencil and we wrote messages back and forth.  I asked him if he prayed, believed in Christ, in God, etc....he told me he didn't really believe but he wanted to try.  He also told me he has been sober for 5 years and his mom was ill.  It was such a cool experience.  We were sitting there writing back and forth while everyone else watched us.  I gave him a book of mormon and my testimony and we are going back to see him this week! 
5. We had a Relief Society activity!  It was all about missionary work.  We talked about standing as a witness of God.  We did some skits.  We ate cake.  it was a great night!  Here is a paraphrased quote from one of the relief society counselors..."We all go through trials.  And I'll be the first to admit I don't like them.  They are hard.  They can be painful.  And sometimes we feel like we can't get through them.  But what's even harder is watching someone I love go through a trial, because I can't take their pain away from them.  I can't be brave for them.  But I know someone who can."  She then just bore her testimony of the Saviour and His atonement.  Ach, it was so good.  There are so many people out there who need help and we know someone who can help them.  That's the beauty of sharing the gospel.  When we open our mouths or invite or are a good example we help people find the one who can take the pain away.  Who can help them be brave.  (Share the gospel with somebody!!!!) :)
6.  This email is getting too long.  One more thing.  Last night we had a brilliant fireside.  It was a group from the Glasgow stake.  They sang all the songs from the Nashville Tribute Band: A Tribute to the Prophet (or whatever it's called) and had testimonies and a slide show and clips about Joseph Smith and the saints.  It was smashing.  The singing was ridiculous. (in a good way)  It was an 18 year old kid that put it all together.  Jackie came and she cried through the whole thing.  It's just  the thing she needed. One of the guys in the show came up to us after and asked if we had any investigators there and we pointed out Jackie.  He went right over and started talking to her.  People are good. 

Okay, I'm going to go!  Have a great week.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SHANNON!  I hope you got the lovely card I made you. :)

Love you,

Sister Rindlisbacher

 

pic 1: me and the castle...don't look at me...just look at the castle

April 15th!

Dear Family,

Hi!  How are you this week?  Hope mom's shoulder is okay.  And I'm really glad you got to go to Missy's farewell! I'm jealous. ha.  It was good to read Hermana Rindlisbacher's email!  Crazy that she's out already...she'll do great!  We had a great week.  I always jot down little things to tell you and keep it in my plannner, but guess who forgot their planner?  So...I'll try to remember and recap!

Cheryl is awesome!  She is doing so well.  We taught her a few times this week.  She was willing to live and try everything we taught.  I even invited her to live the Word of Wisdom after we taught the Law of Chastity lesson. haha.  woops!  She is reading the scriptures and praying everyday.  She even takes notes in a little journal about what she learns and feels.  She has written down her testimony and adds to it every so often (she wants to read it at church soon!)  I don't have any specific moments or stories, but it's just so great to see the chagne in her.  She tells us how different she feels.  She looks better, takes care of herself, she eats now (we just lead by example there haha), she's happier, she is more patient with Ethan, she's really developing her faith in Jesus, and it's amazing to see what can happen in a few weeks.  Mom...do you remember when you sent me a couple pictures of Jesus holding that wee boy? (I think it was back in the MTC maybe?) anyway...We gave one to Cheryl and she LOVED it.  It's hanging in her front room, and she talks about it all the time.  The little boy looks just like Ethan.  And Christ just looks so happy.  Anyway, she looks at it and it gives her strength when she needs it.  She came to church too!  Everyone was really great to her and I think she loved it.  The only thing was she was pretty stressed out about Ethan.  He's kinda crazy sometimes. haha.  I don't think anyone minded though, and I thought he was okay for his first time at church.  We're all just glad they both got to come.  That's something I've learned whilst (ha) out here...it doesn't matter who we are or what we're like...God loves us.  And we should love and take care of each other. 

So...Gary.  We got to see him once this week.  He's been kind of ill and has also worked a ton. (including sunday...couldn't come to church. waa)  He had a way hard week though.  We went in planning to teach the Word of Wisdom.  We got talking to him and he just told us it's been rough and he's been really down.  He even started smoking again.  We just had the thought to read the Book of Mormon with him.  I just opened to one of my favorite chapters (3 nephi 17) and we read that with him.  I think it really helped.  He was able to feel the spirit and come to know Christ's character and love for us all.  My favorite part in that chapter is when it says "all who are afflicted in ANY manner..come and be healed."  No matter what it is in our lives...He can make us whole. :)

I'm trying to think of a good story or something...my mind has gone blank!  So, I guess I'll just sign off...I hope you have a good week!  I love you,

Sister Rindlisbacher

pic 1: I saw Sister Shead!!!!!!!! She was at the mission home (she's training!!!). Our reunion was priceless. hahaha.

 

 

pic 2: me, sister shead, and my grandchild that I met for the first time, sister francis (sister millward trained her) :)  I know they both look nice and cute..I was playing chair football. :)

It was really great to read all your emails this week.  Even if they're short....haha ;)  Was it spring break this week?  How was it?  We had a really good week.  We had so much to do!  But the sun was shining and I don't think any of us stepped in dog poop this week. :)

Did you watch general conference???  I sure hope so cause it was so good!  We didn't get to watch Sunday afternoon because of the time difference, but I'm gonna look up those talks today after I email.  My favorites:

1. Did you hear Sister Dalton talk about SCOTLAND??!!  She talked about the 'act well thy part' sign that used to be in front of the mission home.  I was literally like 30 feet from the spot.  Ach, I love Scotland.  We were all so proud.

2. I liked how Stanley Ellis said something like, "We need to know the doctrine, hearken to our leaders, counsel with the Lord, and then govern ourselves."

3. Of course I loved Elder Anderson's talk about missionaries and the miracle of missionary work.  There are 65,000 full time missionaries, 20,000 more that have been called, and about 6,000 in the interview process.  That. is. so. great.  He talked about how the Lord is preparing more missionaries so He is definitely preparing more people to receive our message.  "Be a part of the miracle."  I like that.  It's not enough to have the gospel and live the gospel...we need to give the gospel to everyone.  They deserve it. (so family go find someone!)

4. And was it just me or did alot of the talks focus on marriage and family? hahaha My companions are making fun of me because that scares me a lot, so they think it was meant just for me.  I'll just stay over here in Scotland for a wee while. :)

5. Loved President Monson's talk.  Obedience is the price and it's the key to happiness. 

Anyway, I loved conference.  It's like Christmas for a missionary.  You know that feeling you get the night before Christmas and you can't sleep...I think that's how I felt the night before conference. haha.

Moving on!  Gary is doing well.  We don't get to see him very much because he works all the time!  (and he couldn't come to conference...)  But we did have a great lesson on the Gospel of Jesus Christ with him.  We couldn't find ANYONE to come teach him with us, so we thought we were going to have to cancel.  Then we had the idea that we could meet him at the church and have one of the office sisters come over with us (the mission home is right next to the church)  Even though they had so much to do Sister Price came and we got to meet with him.  And we feel like it needed to be at the church. (He's in the details)  We talked a lot about repentance and about the sacrament and the spirit was very strong.  He's becoming converted.  He even broke up with his girlfriend because she didn't want him to learn about this and join the church.  That's dedication.  

Cheryl had a really hard week this week.  But she made it to one session of conference!  Unfortunately, Ethan is a little stink :) and she had to sit out in the hall most of the time and she was feeling really sick.  We were on the bus after conference and she sent us a text that said, "Hi sisters!  Please don't give up on me.  I just haven't been feeling 100% lately, but I still know that Jesus Christ is the Saviour and Heavenly Father is there.  I'm going to read my scriptures and pray tonight...." and so on.  Ach.  Our hearts just broke.  We love her-even if she has a long way to go.  Don't we all?

Well, I better get going!  Oh yeah..we had moves call yesterday.  dun dun dun....we're staying!  I love Edinburgh.  Hopefully I stay until June.  Also, how scary is it that I only have 2 transfers left?  I'll tell you...it's scary.  Have a good week.  Love you,

pic 1: You can't really tell, but a couple weeks ago my face was attacked by a football during an intese match of chair football.  All thanks to sister Clegg.

 

pic 2: I finally found Hogwarts

 

 

pic 3: This was on one of our mission newsletters and I thought it was humorous

HAPPY EASTER!

Hey there family!

Happy Easter!  Sorry I didn't get to email yesterday...it was Easter Monday.  They love their holiday's here. :)  How was your easter?  I didn't hear much about it.  I did miss having the scavenger hunt though. ha.  Did you have it?  Let's have one when I get back.  We had a really, really good week.  It's been warming up a wee bit.  So that's good.  I'll just go through the highlights again this week:

1. Gary.  We only got to see him once this week.  But it was soo good!  He has been reading the Book of Mormon and praying and really feels like this is the path for him.  He always feels the spirit really strongly.  We invited him to be baptised on 24 April (good day, huh shanny?) and he said, "Well, that's fair enough." haha Yes!!  The only thing is he'll have a problem coming to church.  Pray that he can come.  Especially to general conference this weekend. (which I can't wait for) 

2. Cheryl.  She is doing way good.  We taught the stop smoking program (did I tell you this? oh well) and she had one I think, but since that she has started over and is doing really well.  She is reading and praying and is excited to be baptised on 1 May! woo!  She wrote down her testimony and read it to us last time.  It was so simple, but so strong.  We left and our hearts were about to burst.  We love her.  It's also really nice being in a trio because she has a crazy 3 year old haha While the other sisters were reading with her I helped Ethan put his McDonald's toy together and kept him semi-quiet. :) 

3. We had a "Good Friday Fireside" and it was excellent.  Our district leader put it all together.  Tons of the ward showed up and 16 less actives and investigators were there.  success!  Anyway, we read a lot of scriptures about the life, Atonement, and Resurrestion of Jesus Christ.  We also had a few musical numbers.  It really helped me.  It's funny because I spend all day every day talking and teaching and testifying about Jesus Christ, but sometimes I forget it's real.  The fireside (and church this week) helped me realize that it's real.  He's real.  He's not a thing of the past, but he's present.  He's here with us.  It was good.  Guess who got to help with a couple of the musical numbers?  Yep.  A mission makes you do things you would never do as a normal person. haha  I played the piano for the bishop's wife who played the flute.  And the missionaries (all 12 of us!) sang "I know that my Redeemer lives".  And we (they) decided it would be a good idea to have me, Sister Clegg, and Sister Larsen sing the first verse by ourselves. ha.  kill me. :)  But we survived and it was a great night.  Cheryl came and she loved it!

Anyway, it was a great week.  We have a busy week planned!  Sister Clegg and Sister Larsen are doing really well.  Moves call is on Sunday, but I'm pretty sure we'll all stay.  I hope you have a great week!

Love you,

Sister Rindlisbacher

y'alright pal?

3/25/13

Hello!

 Y'alright?  How was your week?  Ours was pretty darn good.  It was FREEZING, though.  They said it's been the coldest "spring" that Edinburgh has had in 50 years. haha.  Great!  Hopefully it starts warming up soon.  Sooo...here are my favorite moments from the week:

1. Gary!  He's the guy we met getting off the bus last week.  We met with him a few times this week and it was brilliant.  He has been reading the Book of Mormon and praying and feels like this is 'the path he should take'.  Yay!  He can really recognize when the spirit is speaking to him.  When we left our first lesson with him we knelt and he said the closing prayer.  After he finished he just sat there for like a minute with his eyes closed.  After he opened his eyes he just said, "That was the strongest feeling I've had so far."  I asked him if he thought that was his answer, and he said, "yeah.  I think so."  We're really excited to keep working with him.  The only thing is he works a lot on Sundays.  Just pray that he can switch his shifts or something.  (ps-he does social work!) 

2. Cheryl.  One day last week it was snowing so hard and freezing and no one was outside to talk to and nobody was answering the door, so we decided (wimped out a little) to go inside and call a bunch of potential and former investigators.  The first person I called was Cheryl and she said she would be interested in learning again.  She said, "is tonight too early?" ummm...no!  So we had a great lesson with her.  She is just fantastic.  She has had a really hard life.  She's trying to quit smoking and other drugs, but she really wants to.  She's met with missionaries before and has family who are members.  She really wants to be baptized, she already has a testimony, and we're so excited that we found her.  She told us a week before we called her she had started praying and reading the scriptures again and had been asking for help.  Heavenly Father is so good.  I can't imagine his weekly planning-it must be intense. haha  

3. We had an all Scotland conference!!!  It was so good.  Elder Kerr (area presidency...?) and President Brown did a lot of training, and it was so good.  We all get so pumped to go out and be missionaries.  I always have a headache after these things...spirit overload. :)  And Elder Windhausen and I did the musical number.  He has a really great voice (he sang for the pope) so it went well. ha.  We combined "Lead, kindly light" and "I need thee every hour".   

4. After the conference we did exchanges...Sister Hopkin and I stayed in Edinburgh- she's so good and it was lots of fun!

5. Our whole district and the china town elders did some finding in the city centre.  We put up a stand with Books of Mormon and pamphlets and just talked to everybody about it.  It was fun and we got to talk to a lot of (interesting) people. :)

6.  We were walking home the other night and we saw a weird little animal run across the road.  We couldn't figure out what it was because it went around the side of a building, but we ran up to look and there was this big, creepy badger staring at us!  All I could think of was fox and the hound haha And Sister Millward's story about the badger in the cornmaze. haha.  We live pretty close to Edinburgh zoo...maybe it escaped?  Maybe we'll see a panda on the side of the road tomorrow. :)

Anyway!  That was my week.  It's crazy how time is flying.  I got an email today about my travel arrangements for going home...that's really scary.  But I hope you have a good week and I love you.

Cheerio,

Sister Rindlisbacher

Sister Rindlisbacher loves Edinburgh!

Hey again!

We can't believe it's Monday already.  I don't even know where the week has gone.  How are things at home?  I really can't believe we're nearing the end of March.  Insane.  It's gonna be a short email again...sorry!  I have to create a mormon.org profile and it's Sister Clegg's bday so we need to go do something fun!  

We had another week of finding!  wahoo!  But we did find quite a few potentials that seem really good!  Here's one story:  We left a dinner appointment and we were going to go chapping in a different area, but there were some elders here from Ireland (here for a few days) and they were going to find in our area, so we went with them to show them where to go.  We then decided to do some street contacting nearby even though it wasn't our original plan.  So of we went.  We were walking by a bus stop and a bus stopped (surprise, surprise haha) and this guy got off.  We were already walking past him, but I sort of just turned around and started talking to him right as he got off the bus. haha He was probably a little taken aback.  Anyway, we got talking to him and he is so very prepared.  His name is Gary.  He met with elders about a year ago and even came to church.  This past week he started looking things up online and reading about the Book of Mormon and stuff.  He said he was kind of blown away that we were standing there talking to him.  He's been through a lot, but he said that's how God found him...through his struggles.  He said he feels really good and happy when he talks with us and with the elders and when he's at church.  (spirit!)  He's excited to start learning again and we're excited to teach him! 

Did I ever tell you I love serving in Edinburgh?  It's the coolest city ever.  And I LOVE being so close to the mission home.  I never got to see President or anyone before, but now I can see them all the time! (well sort of)  Sister Clegg and Sister Larsen are doing really well.  It's hard, and it always will be, but we're all trying to be our best.  We had a really good district meeting this week that reminded me why I came on a mission and how I need to work hard until the end.  I'm going to try to make these next 3 months (!!!!!!!!???) the best of my mission.   

Okay I love you!  Have a good week!  I hope it's sunny for you.  Send some our way, por favor. :)

love,

Sister Rindlisbacher

 ps...pray for my piano skills on Tuesday.  We're having an all scotland conference and an Elder in my district is singing the musical number and guess who gets to play for him?  I do.  I hardly even play the piano. haha.  Especially now.  Ach well.  It'll be grand.

picture 1: the bottom of my boot :)  

picture 2: Sisters Clegg, Larsen, and Rindlisbacher

 

More Pics

Me and Sister Millward: Reunited :)

 

 

This is what happnes when you open an area...you have to pull out your HUGE map and take up the whole sidewalk so you can find where you're going...and then you still get lost ha

oh the weather outside is frightful....

3/11/13

Hello!  We are freezing cold. :)  My fingers can barely type...it snowed quite a bit last night and we just walked forever in it to get to the library.  So anyway-how was your week?  I seriously can't believe how time is flying (most of the time ha).  HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I can't believe you're so old. :) 

We had a good week.  We did a ton of finding. (yay)  How is trio training you ask?  It's kinda hard sometimes.  But most of the time it's good and it's fun.  Sometimes I just think to myself, "I am not patient enough or charitable enough or humble enough or good enough to do this."  But we had a lesson with this lady this week and she said her professor told her "Do it 100 times and then tell me you can't do it."  So.  I'll let you know in 100 days. :)  I thought it was good advice though! 

I don't really have too much to say.  We just did ALOT of street contacting and chapping and we met a few people that seem interested.  We have one investigator (that the elders were working with)  we had a good lesson with her this week and she wants to keep learning more.  She said she would be baptized if she 'felt the way we do'...she'll get there! 

We met this guy named Nicholas last night--a nice chap, probalby mid-twenties.  We were street contacting and he was walking by eating a hamburger.  haha We stopped him (his burger probably got really cold. woops) He doesn't really have a belief in God, but he said that he really hopes something is there.  We talked to him a lot about the Book of Mormon and how it answers our questions and about the plan of salvation.  He told us his mum died a week ago.  And yesterday was mother's day here...oh it just broke our hearts.  We said a prayer with him and before he walked away we just said, "We know you'll see your mom again."  He started tearing up and he said, "Thank you."  He didn't want to give us his number or anything, but I think the Book of Mormon and that little piece of hope will help him get through this hard time.  

Sooo..I'm really sorry this is going to be a short email!  I'll try to send lots of pictures to make up for it (not that my new found chubb will make up for it.  Sorry you have to see it. haha)

I love you!  I'll talk to you next week!

Love,

Sister Rindlisbacher

pic 1: Danni's baptism

pic 2: Look what Sister Shead sent me!!

 

March 4

MY DEAR FAMILY AND FRIENDS:

HI!!!  I have so so much to say.  First of all...does anybody know where February went? (name that song haha)  I cannot believe it's March.  That's so insane.  Ahhhhh.  It has been such a long and tiring and fantastic week.  Where to start?  (ps I don't have too much time, so I'll try to fit in as much as possible) 

DANNI WAS BAPTIZED!!!!  It was on Wednesday night.  It was beautiful. (said in scottish accent).  Lot's of the ward members came.  Brian, her nonmember cousin, came and he loved it and wants to do the same thing. :)  The relief society pres. gave a wonderful talk.  Everyone was so supportive of her.  I was just so proud.  She was really nervous, but Bro. Crawford did a wonderul job and she didn't even freak out at all. haha  It was such a brilliant sight to see her come up out of the water.. everyone said she looked different (in a good way)  She even acted different.  I'm just happy for her.  And so proud.  I'm really grateful Heavenly Father blessed me with her.  :)

I'll send pictures next week when I have more time!!!

I got to spend thursday-friday with Sister Millward.  yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It was like a dream come true. haha Happiest reunion ever.  So we travelled down to Edinburgh on Friday and tried to get the flat set up and then did some finding.  Edinburgh is the coolest city EVER.  I'm in an area called Corstorphine (it's the west side).  There are 12 missionaries in our ward.  12.  It still blows my mind.  Saturday the new missionaries came in and we did the usual.  We got to go up Pratt's Hill and (re)dedicate ourselves and set a baptismal goal.  It was sunny too!  We received lots of training and had delicious food and got to be with lots of missionaries.  I love days like that.  Everyone felt bad for me and Sister Millward (since we're both training two new sisters) haha :)  We're the first ones in this mission to do it-hopefully we don't screw it up. :)  Anyway-I got Sister Clegg (kaysville) and Sister Larsen (Colorado)  They're both really, really good.  They're young too. ;)  But I'm excited it'll be really good.  I'm a bit stressed out about the new area-I've forgotten how to figure out the bus system haha, but I'll be okay.  Exciting stuff. 

Something cool that was said in our training: After we read Act 3:1-6 (i think) we talked about how Christ's name is all we have.  We've given up everything else, but His name.  So we need to go out and give it to the people.  I thought it was neat. :)

Okay..I'm gonna have to get going.  I love you!  Have a great week...pray for the three of us and for the people we're supposed to find. :)

cheers,

Sister Rindlisbacher

ps-a trio isn't as bad as I always imagined haha It's kinda nice!

Can you say Edinburgh?

2/25/13
al;skdjf;lkasdjf;oiea;hglkjdifeh asldkjfa;lie akfjei Hello family!!!!!!!  I have so much to tell you and I don't even know where to start, so I just kind of freaked out a bit. haha  First of all...how are you?  I'm doing well!

I'll just start with moves call, which we got on Saturday night (weird).  President called and he's like "Hello sister Rindlisbacher, are you ready for a new assignment??"  "um...yes" :) Then he's like, "It's a tough one" "okay...I'm ready..."  haha anyway!  I'm leaving Montrose :( But I'm going to Edinburgh!!!  Super exciting!  We're going to be opening a new area called Edinburgh West (I guess it's part of the assistants area or something...yikes)!!!!!!  And I get to train again...even better...I get to train two new sisters! hahaha All I ask is that you pray for us this week. :)  I'm pretty nervous, but I'm excited for the challenge and to be so close to the mission home.  It'll be weird to be in a big city, if my calculations are correct there will be as many missionaries in my new ward as there were active memebers in my Greenock branch.  Help? haha just kidding...it's gonna be a new experience! 

Anyway, our dear Danni is getting baptized on Wednesday!!  wooooooo!  Problem: moves day is wednesday.  So, I was planning on asking president if I could stay for the baptism, haha, but when I was talking to one of the assistants he told me they'd figure something out so I could for sure stay for the baptism.  I didn't even have to ask..how nice!!  I'm so relieved.  Another bit of exciting news: I'll be going down to Edinburgh on Thursday (the new missionaries will arrive on Saturday) and I will meet sister Millward (also training in Dublin!!) and we'll start getting my area set up before the bairns arrive.  I almost died with joy! 

As I said Danni is getting baptized on Wednesday.  Her interview went great!  She was SUPER DUPER nervous before she went in with Elder Clarke.  As she walked away she asked, "Are you sure you're from God?" haha.  Elder Clarke was talking to us after and just said, "The Lord must love her so much."  She has had to deal with way too much.  And we're just so proud of her for doing her best and trying and changing.  Even if change is slow, change is change.  We were walking with her after the interview and she was telling us how she was going to start saving to buy a new coat, but she said, "First I'm gonna pay God."  (tithing) :)  Ah.  We just love her.  Just pray that everything will go well, that she'll have the strength to keep going and dealing with her mum.  Thank you!

I'm excited to go to Edinburgh, but I'm really sad to leave here.  I've really come to love it.  And I love the people in Montrose.  I told a few people at church that I was going.  On of my favorite little boys, Thomas, started crying and just gave me a hug and wouldn't let go.  His mom was trying to get him in the car after church, but he kept running back to 1. give me a hug 2. make sure he was saying my name right :)  I'm really grateful I got to serve here, even with all the challenges and trials. 

I don't have too much time, but I love you!  Thank you for all you do for me and all the prayers.  I'll talk to you next week from EDINBURGH.  :)

love,

Sister Rindlisbacher

(I forgot my camera cord...I'll send pics next week)

Valentines

Hello again everybody!

Another week-and it went by so so fast.  We had a few really nice days..the sun was shining!  It was brilliant, but the weather got us back because the last few nights I think we were chapping in a hurricane. haha  So how are you??  I'm glad to hear you had the missionaries over!  And that's probably exactly how I am. :)

We had a good week...lot's of potential investigators found that we'll be visiting this next week, hopefully they'll be ready and open!

Danni: she's doing good!  Our ward mission leader is concerned she's still smoking, she tells us she's not, though.  So everybody just pray for her and we'll pray for the gift of discernment. (sp?)  We helped her clean her room this week! haha  fun stuff.  Her house is in a state...her family doesn't really care about being clean and definitely didn't teach Danni to be...we wanted her to have a place where she could get away from that.  So we took a few hours and helped her clean up!  It looks so much better and it feels different.

Hopefully that will help her.  (I had a dream the night before that we went and she had already cleaned it, and it was spotless!  wishful thinking.  or wishful dreaming I guess haha)

Beto:  Did I tell you about him before??  I don't remember, but I'll tell you again if I have!  I'll start from the beginning...for like the past month every sunday when we're driving on the high street coming back from Church I see this kid (beto).  A couple weeks ago I said if we saw him again we would stop and talk to him.  Then a few days later we were street contacting on the high street and there he was!  So we talked to him...he has a belief in God and was very interested in learning more and reading the Book of Mormon.  He was leaving for about a week, so we got his contact info.  We tried calling him, but he didn't answer, so we decided to stop by his house.

 His mom answered, so we said hi and asked if Beto was in.  She went away and Beto comes to the door...I was thinking "you look so much older than I remember"..oh! It's his dad, Beto senior. :)  He was super nice (ps they're from Portugal) and also wanted to learn more.

He said he was worried about his son, he was going through a really difficult time and was lost.  He said, "If he doesn't call you..I will!"  Anyway, we have an appointment with them tonight!  We're excited!  He also has a little sister, Anna.

Funny (and awkward):  As we were leaving I went to shake his hand and he just left me hanging.  So I put my hand back down and all of a sudden he comes in (and this is where I panic and freeze haha) and gives me a kiss on both cheeks. hahaha  Sister Tylka said my face was terrified. :)  He said "we don't shake hands in Portugal, we kiss two times!"  umm...okay...well we'll probably have to sort that out when we see them tonight.  :)  Wish us luck! 

I also had a really good day at church yesterday.. I love church.  As a missionary it can be kinda stressful, but it always gives me the uplift and reminders that I need.  We had our stake pres. there (Pres.

Watson) and he gave a really good talk.  These were his closing words, "Hold on.  Stay strong.  Jesus Christ Lives."  So He does.  We also had tea (dinner-did I ever tell you that's what they call dinner??) at the Bishop's.  We had a wee testimony meeting with them.  It was really good.  I'm grateful that Christ's grace is sufficient.  Elder Bednar once said to replace 'grace' with 'enabling power' when you read it in the scriptures.  I'm just really really grateful for His enabling power.  Where would we be without it?

January 28

Hey there everybody!

How's it going?  Glad to hear everyone is doing good.  Thank you for telling me about Miranda.  I've been praying that she and the baby will be okay, but I had no idea that happened.  It's so good that they're both okay.  I'll keep praying everyday.  Will you tell her I love her?
So, my week was long. haha.  That highlight was the haggis!  It was Robert Burns (scottish poet) birthday on friday--so for Burn's supper we had haggis.  I actually had it 3 times this week!!  Ach, it's so good.  I think I'll bring some home so you all can try it. haha 

What else?  What else?  Oh!  Here is a little miracle for ya...remember Rebecca and Kyle?  The young couple with the baby (liam) that we were teaching a while ago?  Well, after Christmas we couldn't get ahold of them.  They wouldn't answer the phone or the door.  We tried a million times, but nothing.  Then Kyle's grandma told us that they had broken up.  So we left it for a bit, and then tried a couple more times, still nothing.  The other night we had planned to try by a couple of people, but didn't have time to walk out to their houses, so we decided to try by Rebecca.  We were walking up to her building and we saw a girl standing on the corner, crying.  When we got closer I realized it was Rebecca.  Such a heart-breaking sight.  We got to talk to her and try and comfort her for a little while.  Her mom is staying with her and Liam and she had just gone outside for fresh air, total miracle that we found her or else who know's if we ever would have seen her again?  She has been going through a really hard time.  She said she wanted us to come back this week, so I'll let you know how it goes.  Pray for her, we love her.

Josh: we had a coulple of super good lessons this week!  Normally, when there is a moment of silence he will get uncomfortable and be like, "Ok.  Your turn to say something." haha But after we had read a scripture with him (Hel 5:30) we just sat there.  He didn't say anything.  We didn't say anything.  And his whole demeaner changed.  The spirit was definitely there testifying.  But, he said he hadn't really felt anything...come on! :)  But he still wants to know.  He's willing to read and he even prayed out loud!!  He was nervous, but after he said, "That wasn't so bad" :)  He's solid if we can help him recognize his answers from God. 

We also had exchanges this week...Sister Ryan came down again from Aberdeen.  It was fun!  We had a lunch appointment at a members house.  The appetizer was a huge melon with oranges draped over it.  1-I don't really like melon.  2-Remember how my throat gets all itchy/kinda swells up? haha Well, that definitely happened. :)  I started to lose my voice and they were looking at me like, "what it going on?"  I tried to wash it down with my drink...oh wait it's orange juice.  :)  It finally went away, but it was funny.

Happy Anniversary

How is everybody this week?  Sounds super cold.  It's been cold here as well, but probably not that cold.  brrr.  So-I'm sad I missed Justin's birthday, I can't believe he's 9!  Ach!  Sounds like you got some good stuff though.  :) 

Our week has been cold and snowy, but it was really good!  I have really missed the snow.  We had a snowball fight, I tried to build a snowman, and we've been dying to make snow angels. ha. 

Here are the high-lights of this week:

1. We had interviews and training with President Brown!  Yay!  Oh how I love him and Sister Brown.  They're the best.  We were standing outside the church (it was locked) waiting with our district leader and his companion when President pulled up.  He got out of the car and hugged the elders and then I stuck my hand out to give him a handshake (like usual) but he's like, "Oh, no one's watching give me a hug!" haha So training was great, we talked a lot about our purpse-to invite others to come unto Christ....(ps-I'm really glad you're studying PMG for Family home evening!)  Sometimes I just go through the motions and forget WHY I'm here.  And WHY I'm doing what I'm doing.  Good reminders.  Our interview was also good, he's always so full of encouragement and advice.

(I love the scotland/ireland mission--just saying)

2. I think it was last week we were trying by a less-active in the ward.  She was on our ward list, but we'd never met her so we went by.  A younger (21ish) lad opened the door and said she didn't live there anymore, but it was his grandma!  So we talked to him for a bit and went back a few days later to teach him!  We're also seeing him tomorrow!  He doesn't have a belief either way, he doesn't want to say God is there or isn't until he has proof.  (I was reading alma 30 this morning and I'm hoping that doesn't happen to him haha)  But he is quite open and desires to know.  He really likes the morals of religion as well.  Please bless!
3. We were in a wee village called Brechin the other day.  All our appointments dropped so we were out talking to people and chapping all day...and it was snowing super bad so we were soaked!  One of our backups was to try by this less active couple.  They are usually never in, but they were that day!  She let us in, made me take off my tights and 2 pairs of socks so she could dry them, and gave us hot chocolate.  So great.  We also had a good lesson with her where she told us about her concerns with the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith.  She hasn't read it for a long time, but she is going to try to read and pray again.  :)  Before we left she asked what size of shoes I wore, I told her, and then she left the room for a second.  She came back with a pair of wellies (like rain boots...do we call them wellies back home???) for me!  I didn't want to take them, but of course she insisted.  How good are some people?  I told her my mom would love her for that. :)
4. We chapped on a door and talked to this guy for a really long time.  He had a lot of doubts and questions, and we shared a lot of the plan of salvation with him.  Anyway, near the end of the conversation he asked if I was originally from Montrose...as in he thought I was Scottish! haha yay!  Okay..it's not really saying that much-he's not too great at identifying accents-he thought sister Tylka was Polish. ha.  But still. :)
5. Another funny moment..we stopped by a former investigator called Mary.  She let us in and she also had a friend there called John (from her church).  He is from Nigeria.  When we were leaving she grabbed my hand and grabbed John's hand and started talking about how he was looking for a wife...my eyes just got really big. haha But John was like, "oh no no!  She's already married!" and points to my CTR ring.  Phew.  Saved by the CTR ring.  Choose the right, people.  Works everytime.
Welp, I think that's all I've got for now.  Have a wonderful week.  Remember I love you!  Oh, and did I mention I hit my year mark this week???  How in the world?  Happy anniversary to me! 

The church is true and we are so blessed.

Love,

Sister Rindlisbacher

hola....

Another week.  So it sounds like it's super cold back home...we finally got a wee bit of snow last night!  Not enough for my liking though. :) I hope you had a great week...Happy Birthday to my wee sister!!!  Hope you got my card.  I know.  It's very classy. haha Oh!  And we got a new bishopric!?  Wow!  Tell the old bishopric I love them and am grateful for them.  And I'm super duper excited for the new one..so good!

We had a ton of weird and interesting and good experiences this week.  Sister Tylka is a little ball of fun. haha  Ach.  Where do I start? 

We had a great district meeting.  Our district leader talked to us alot about the new year.  What we want to accomplish this year.  And how we can make it better than the last.  We have lots of goals for our area and our zone and our mission.  This year is gonna be a good one.  The definition of new (according to his dictionary) is: different from the former, refreshed, regenerated.  I like that.  Let's have a refreshed, regenerated year..one that's different (better) from the former.  (3 Nep 13:47-48)

We visit this less-active usually every week.  She has a son that isn't a member, but he's a really good kid and if he's there will always sit in on the lessons.  He's been taught by missionaries in the past, but nothing ever really happened.  His mom says he knows it's true (it's the change thing that gets him).  Anyway, the last lesson we had with his mom was brilliant.  She pretty much just taught it.  She told us about some experiences that she had this last year and it was just an intense experience.  Very spiritual.  Anyway...Sister Tylka and I both had the thought that it's time to try to teach her son again...so she's going to talk to him and we'll let you know!
We also had kind of a...scary...experience. haha I have learned to never ignore the promptings of the Holy Ghost, even if you aren't sure if it's Him.  We were chapping doors a few nights ago.  The street was lit, but here they have a lot of doors around the backside of the buildings, so it's super dark back there.  Every time we went back I just thought, "I don't like this.  We should go.  I really don't like this.  We should probably go."  I said it a few times as well.  We were discussing whether it was just me being scared :) or the spirit when this guy opened his door and we both felt this weight and just knew we needed to go.  So I handed him a Book of Mormon, he invited us in, I pretended to look at my watch and said we had to go haha .  So we started walking away and we heard him opening the door again behind us, and we both just started running.  We ran until we were off of that street, and then went to see a member. :)  We didn't feel so good, but I learned a great lesson to never ignore the Holy Ghost.  He's there to protect us.  So, is it just me or is it the Holy Ghost? As Elder Bednar says, "Quit worrying about it.  Be a good boy.  Be a good girl.  Keep your covenants and the Lord will guide your steps."
Funny moment: We were chapping and we came to a door that had a few numbers on it.  Normally, you just go in that door and there is a little hallway with several doors you can chap.  So, like normal, we walked in the first door, but come to find out...it was a bar. haha!  We walked into a bar. :)

That's it for this week!  I love you! 

Sister Rindlisbacher

Happy 2013!!

Hello dear family!

How are you all this week?  I'm sorry mom that it's Thursday and I haven't emailed yet...the libraries have been closed!  I was wondering if you would contact Pres. Brown, but I haven't heard from him yet...haha :)

So, we've had a really good week!  I don't remember when I talked to you last...can't really remember what I've told you.  But we have had a good week!

We got our moves call on Sunday...I'm staying!  I had the 'feeling' that I was moving, but alas, I'm not.  Sister Shead is going to........LIMERICK.  Seriously?  If my next companion goes there they're taking me with them. :)  She's going to serve with sister Millward and Sister Francis...it's kinda funny, all my mission posterity (my daughters and a grandchild) are serving together where I started my mission! haha  She was pretty nervous, but she's gonna do so good.  And Sister Tylka is coming here to Montrose.  She's from Cotton Wood Heights.  My first companion from Utah-woot!  I already know her pretty well, we both served in Paisley zone...it'll be really good!

On New Year's eve we went to a light house!  It was closed so we couldn't climb to the top, but still!  I have a new obsession with light houses.  They're so cool.  And the rest of the evening we had to be in the flat.  So we pretty much just ate and packed and made face masks and watched missionary training videos. haha We are party animals.  :)  Then on the 1st (did I mention it is January? what?!) we mostly just finished packing.  We also got to go have lunch at a members home.  We also went to the bishops house and got to watch movies again. :)  We watched the end of peter pan! (the Jeremy Sumpter one)  "Who are you?" "I'm...John..."  "John...take ahold of this!"  Remember when we watched that movie all the time?  I still love it.  We also watched The Wizard of Oz.  I didn't choose that one. :)  But I imagined kelli doing her impression of the lion.  We had to leave early though to travel down to Edinburgh.  Guess who got to drive?  Ope! me!  It actually wasn't too bad.  It was pretty quiet because of the holiday.  We stayed at the Edinburgh's sisters flat that night and took Sister Shead to the bus station early, early in the morning.  We went to the mission home and got some breakfast before we headed back to Montrose.  I love the mission home.  I love President and Sister Brown.  I love missionaries.  yup, I do.
What else?  Danni had an baptismal interview this Sunday!  It was really, really good for her.  She still has  a ways to go before she can actually be baptized, but she's happier and she's changing for the better.  Her family and friends don't always like it, but she knows it's right.  She's so funny.  She called me yesterday just to tell me she was listening to gospel music.  She said that NEVER would have happened before.  :)  We love her.  Our investigator, Cara, called us on New Year's Eve to tell us she didn't want to meet anymore.  It's not for her.  Well....it is.  She just doesn't know that yet. 

I love you! 

Sister Rindlisbacher

pic 1: 14 strippling warriors

pic2: walking to the lighthouse
pic 3: bye bye sister Shead :(

8 days till Christmas!

Helloooooo everyone!

It's been FOREVER since I've talked to (emailed?) you.  Well, it feels like it anyway.  I've had a good and crazy couple of weeks.  I feel like I have so very much to tell you, but I am seriously drawing a blank....

It's been a super busy week!  On Wednesday we drove down to Edinburgh for our 'all Scotland conference'!!  It was sooo great.  Every missionary in Scotland was there (I think Ireland did one the next day-I wish we could all get together...).  So, Elder Kearon (from the seventy) is doing a mission tour of the Europe area.  Oh man it was so good!  I always come away from things like that feeling two things: 1. I'm a rubbish missionary and have A LOT to work on 2. I always feel uplifted and like I'm where I should be.  And I love being a missionary. :)  You should have heard us at the end singing our mission song..I've never sung it with so many people.  Chills.  ;)  Elder Kearon spoke a lot about having the faith to find, having a vision, and going by the spirit.  When I shook his hand he said he said, "Oh, Rindlisbacher, that's a big name in the church." ?? I guess he knows someone that works at church headquarters with our name or something...shveet.

So, right after the conference we got to go on exchanges!  I went up to Aberdeen with Sister Ryan (who i love).  It was really good!  We always seem to perform better on exchanges, I guess that's the purpose of them.  I need to do them more often apparently.  Aberdeen is good, it's a big city.  I'm used to my small, hillbilly areas. :)  Oh!  Sister Ryan put on a christmas cd and it sounded really familiar...and then the angelic voice of david archuleta came on. hahaha.  I've been meaning to ask you to send me the cd he does with the mo-tab (too late now.)  Tender mercy though, I got to hear it.
One funny story from exchanges (we thought it was at least)...we got the train from Montrose to Aberdeen, and in our minds it was 7:10 (but really it was 6:10) so we get off the train and walk to their flat, drop our stuff off, and we're like "okay.  We've got 20 minutes till 9:00, we'll go out and street contact."  We were trying to be obedient and effective.  And then we hurried back to be in on time.  Well, we say a prayer and start planning.  And then I look at my watch and it says 8:15.  At first I thought my watch had stopped, so I asked her what time it was.  Oh.  8:15.  haha We just laughed our heads off, got our coats and stuff back on and went back out until 9:00 really came.  haha.  Anyway, probably only funny to missionaries who are really tired. :)
We had the ward Christmas party on Saturday night!  We pulled up and it was only the bishop's car that was there...oh dear.  But we waited for a few minutes and quite a few people showed up!  Danni came!  (and she came to church again!)  And their were two father's who aren't members of the church, but they came and brought their kids (even though their wives who are members didn't come!)  So good.  Sister Shead and I were in charge of the games.  We had so much fun with everybody.  And we ate too much.  What could be better??
So at district meeting we all had a little testimony meeting.  It was so good.  This one elder said something that we all needed.  I've served around this elder for a while, and he's never shown any sign of weakness or vulnerability.  At all.  But as he was talking about a really rough time in his mission and some advice his mom had given...he broke down.  He tried SO HARD to hold it in, ha, but he just couldn't.  It was very sweet.  But, the advice was "fight.  Just fight to the end of the hour.  Fight to the end of the lesson.  The end of the day.  Just keep going.  And when you feel like you can't fight anymore, take a step off the front lines for a minute and talk to the people who love you adn want to help you.  Then fight.  Just keep fighting."  I can't put it as well as he did, but it was simple, and so profound.
Anyway, I better go!!  I love you all!  Have an excellente week! :)

love,

Sister Rindlisbacher

pic 1: me holding an owl.  Yes...an owl.

pic 2: Sis. shead, Danni, and I at the Christmas party..  don't worry, I'm happy even though my face doesn't show it :)